Insurer changes course, covers $10,000 bat bite bill - WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and Sports

Insurer changes course, covers $10,000 bat bite bill

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By Tony Galli - bio | email

MADISON (WKOW) -- A Madison man saddled with a $10,000 hospital bill for treatment of a potential bat bite said his insurer has changed course and decided to cover the treatment cost, after a 27 News report on the earlier insurance denial.

28-year old Joel Weirauch told 27 News a representative of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois confirmed Tuesday the company would cover his emergency room treatment.

Weirauch found a bat on his head as he awoke from sleep in September. He received emergency room treatment for a potential bite and rabies exposure at St. Mary's Hospital. Weirauch said his insurer refused to pay the bulk of the claim from the treatment because the hospital was out-of-network from his health plan. Weirauch argued his coverage treated all hospitals as in-network in cases of emergency.

A spokesperson for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois has yet to comment on Weirauch's case.

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